Why was Michael Spinks known as the greatest light heavyweight ever? Was he really ?

[Moon]

Michael Spinks is the only undefeated light heavyweight champion in boxing history. Can't say that about Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, or Roy Jones. For more than 100 years, there's been many light heavy champs, but only one of them never tasted defeat while weighing 175 pounds, Michael Spinks.

Spinks was also the first reigning light heavyweight champion to challenge and defeat the reigning heavyweight champion. Again, something that Billy Conn, Archie Moore, and Bob Foster also attempted as light heavy champ, but failed. Roy Jones' defeat of Ruiz cannot be compared to Spinks-Holmes, never.

This is just the beginning of the discussion.

[SacTown1]

Michael Spinks is the only undefeated light heavyweight champion in boxing history. Can't say that about Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, or Roy Jones. For more than 100 years, there's been many light heavy champs, but only one of them never tasted defeat while weighing 175 pounds, Michael Spinks.

Spinks was also the first reigning light heavyweight champion to challenge and defeat the reigning heavyweight champion. Again, something that Billy Conn, Archie Moore, and Bob Foster also attempted as light heavy champ, but failed. Roy Jones' defeat of Ruiz cannot be compared to Spinks-Holmes, never.

This is just the beginning of the discussion.

If you want to count the WBO title, then Moorer was the 2nd undefeated light heavywieght champ, but I can't blame you if you'd rather not give the WBO any credit, I mean c'mon, Vlad Quitschko was their champ for a while... but I see your point, Spinks was truly a gifted athlete and a tough cat for moving up to heavyweight to challenge Holmes and Tyson who were both much bigger human beings than Spinks

[GOAT]

He's definitely up there -- I don't know if he was the greatest. There are strong arguments for Ezzard Charles, who never had a chance to fight for the light-heavyweight title, but beat Archie Moore (another candidate for greatest LHW of all time) easily three times and all in all was 9-0 against four world light-heavyweight champions. He of course held onto the heavyweight title much longer than Spinks too.

[Yogi]

Michael Spinks is the only undefeated light heavyweight champion in boxing history. Can't say that about Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, or Roy Jones. For more than 100 years, there's been many light heavy champs, but only one of them never tasted defeat while weighing 175 pounds, Michael Spinks.

Spinks was also the first reigning light heavyweight champion to challenge and defeat the reigning heavyweight champion. Again, something that Billy Conn, Archie Moore, and Bob Foster also attempted as light heavy champ, but failed. Roy Jones' defeat of Ruiz cannot be compared to Spinks-Holmes, never.

This is just the beginning of the discussion.

Jack McAuliffe is the only undefeated Lightweight champion in history, so am I to assume you rank him very high on your listing of the greatest Lightweights in history?

What about Jimmy Barry, who was also an undefeated champion throughout his career. Does he rank highly on your list of the greatest Flyweights/Bantamweights in history?

Did you have a high opinion of Lee Canalito, who was Sly Stallone's big prospect with that "Tiger Eye Productions" thing he had going on back in the early 80's?

And I'm of the belief that you don't neccessarily need to have a belt around your waste to be classified as the best in your division, but it seems like there's a bunch of modern-day lovers of this era of multiple title belts around, so...Both Gene Tunney and Ezzard Charles were considered the very best Light Heavyweights in the world just previous to winning the Heavyweight title, which is all a belt is supposed to do. And they both stepped up and defeated/dominated a fading champion without any controversy (Tunney whipped Dempsey in winning nine out of ten rounds. Charles gain universal claim by clearly beating Louis in twelve out of fifteen rounds).

[GasPed]

Michael Spinks was definitely one of the best light heavies of all time. While he was a small heavyweight, he was also definitely a big light heavyweight. He had great skills, good hand speed, he could box or punch, and he had very good power for a light heavy (especially his straight right). And he fought and beat all the best at the time (Marvin Johnson, Dwight Qawi and Eddie Mustafa were great light heavies who would've been formidable contenders in any era).

I personally think Roy Jones would've beat him (if both were in their prime), but any other light heavy would really have their hands full (i.e. Conn, Moore, Foster - though Moore's career accomplishments at middle thru heavy were something special).

And while I give him credit for beating Holmes twice (though they were both pretty iffy IMO), his loss to Tyson was a little pathetic, so his record at heavy doesn't really add or detract from his legacy. So based on his light heavy career accomplishments alone, I would put him right at the top. If I had to pick based on ability, I'd probably put him at Number 2 or thereabouts.

[Moon]

If you want to count the WBO title, then Moorer was the 2nd undefeated light heavywieght champ, but I can't blame you if you'd rather not give the WBO any credit ..... Spinks was truly a gifted athlete and a tough cat for moving up to heavyweight to challenge Holmes and Tyson who were both much bigger human beings than Spinks

SAC ... yeah Spinks gave up 50 lbs to Holmes, who was 48-0 going into that fight. Larry was trying to match Marciano's record of 49-0, but lost a UD to Spinks. As heavy Champ Spinks then made 20 consecutive title defenses during his seven year reign and, get this ..... only Joe Louis made more with 25.

Spinks did all this as heavy Champ, but, before that, he was one of only six light heavy champs who never lost a title fight. Spinks was never hurt or knocked off his feet while at Light Heavy. It wasn't until the last fight of his career that Spinks was knocked down, and it took a Prime Tyson to do it.

[GasPed]

I do have to admit though, I'm a little biased towards him because he was one of my favorites...

[GOAT]

And I'm of the belief that you don't neccessarily need to have a belt around your waste to be classified as the best in your division,

I completely agree, and Charles and Tunney are clearly two of the best light-heavyweights of all time, even though neither one of them ever captured the lineal light-heavyweight crown.

But, if you're talking about "greatness", then a lot of people are going to want to look at objective criteria like number of title defenses, or of course whether the fighter ever became THE world champion to begin with, and under those criteria Charles and Tunney take a back seat to Spinks.

[GOAT]

SAC ... yeah Spinks gave up 50 lbs to Holmes, who was 48-0 going into that fight. Larry was trying to match Marciano's record of 49-0, but lost a UD to Spinks. As heavy Champ Spinks then made 20 consecutive title defenses during his seven year reign and, get this ..... only Joe Louis made more with 25.

Huh?! What are you talking about?

[GasPed]

Yeah, man - Spinks fought what, 4 times as a heavyweight?... ...Not 20 times...